Apparatus por the electrical precipitation of suspended matter in



A. F. NESBIT. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATION 0F SUSPENDEDMATTER IN GASEOUS AND FLUID BODIES.

APPLICAHOR FILED IIOV. I7. 1914.

1,356,462, Patented 001;. 19, 1920.

A. F. NESBIT.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL FRECIPIIATION 0F SUSPENDED MATTER INGASEOUS AND FLUID BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED now/.11. IQH.

1,356,462. Emma Oct 19,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'A. F. NESBIT. APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATION 0F SUSPENDEDMATTER IN GASEOUS AND FLUID BODIES.

a x m W 01% l a W W w Um I f/ m a i L am my a w m m a d w x w W a 1 n v3 a m I fl/W U A W m m 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Anrmm r. nnsiii'r, or WILKINSBUBG, rnnnsvnvmn, nssmrion TO INTERNA-I'IonA PRECIPITATION COMPANY, A CORPORATION or CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATION OF SUSPENDED MATTEII m aGASEOUS AND FLUID BODIES.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed November 17, 1914. Serial No. 872,820.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR F. NESBIT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forthe Electrical Precipitation of Suspended Matter in Gaseous and FluidBodies, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in means for removing suspendedmatter from gaseous and fluid bodies by the electrical precipitationprocess.

It has lon been known that electrical discharges, w ether of the brush,point, corona, or other types, may be utilized for the removal ofsuspended particles from gaseous and fluid media Very copious ionizationmay be produced by the types of electric fields mentioned, the ionsbeing most easily produced by the use of one or more electrodes placedin or near the same fluid or gaseous medium, and the electricaldischarge may be made to take place from one electrode to another, thesurface of the active electrode being smaller than the surface of theother electrode, said electrodes constituting an asymmetrical pair. Theelectrode from which the discharge takes place is called the activeelectrode because the electrical intensity at or near its surface isvery great in comparison with its value at any other portion of theelectric field. The luminous, heat, and ionizing effects are usuallylocalized and very intense in the neighborhood of this active electrode.Secondary ionization of the gaseous or fluid medium may also contributevery materially to the breaking down of the insulating properties ofsaid medium. This secondary ionization, which may be due to the.collisions of the ions with the gaseous or fluid particles, gives riseto the production of a lar e number of positive and negative ions. heions having charges unlike that of the active electrode, are attractedtoward it, and are said to give up their charge to this electrode. Ionswhic possess a sign of charge which is the same as that of the activeelectrode are repelled from the latter, and if the secondary ionizationis sufliciently intense and continuous, this flow of ions will bedesignated as a stream of ions, or an electric current. The removal ofsuspended particles in gaseous and fluid bodies, by the electricalprecipitation method, involves the action of electric winds, theionization of the medium, and to a large extent, the formation ofnuclei.

The electromagnetic Wave, it is Well known, is made up of twocomponents, the electrostatic and the magnetic, and the former accountsfor the electric currents in the form of electrical discharges, whethersteady, disruptive, alternatin pulsating, or oscillating in character.hese electromagnetic waves may be the so called pure waves, in thattheir two components, due to the electrostatic field and the magneticfield, are of equal magnitude, and constitute the ether-distortion orether-motion states, both traveling along together and mutuallysustaining each other. These electromagnetic waves may be made to travelalong between two wires, between two broad sheets of metal, between twoouter sheets of metal, wholly or partly inclosing another sheet ofmetal, wire mesh, or a parallel grouping of wires. Between these formsof conducting surfaces, the electromagnetic wave moves along, and isprevented from spreading out, t at is, it is confined in much the samemanner as a sound wave is confined within a speaking tube through whichit asses.

One of the objects of the present invention is to utilize one or more ofthe well known phenomena associated with electromagnetic waves, whenthese waves are so controlled as to give rise to more or less faintnodes and loops on the conductors constituting the electrode-system, aswell as in the dielectric medium through which the electromagnetic waveis passing. A further object is to provide an electrode system equallywell adapted to operate at high efficiency, for electromagnetic waves ofhigh or low fr uency, and of large or small amplitude. A urther objectis to provide an apparatus which is applicable where electromagneticwaves may controlled so that either their electrostatic or magneticcomponents may be made, at will, the dominating ones. further object isto provide an apparatus which shall be adapted to electric potentials oflow or high frequencies, and producing electrical discharges which maybe s'teady, disruptive, alternating, pulsating or oscillating incharacter.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewillustrating a precipitating apparatus constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles toFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a slight modification.Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the arrangement of theelectrodes when the grounded plates 20 are slightly corrugated in form.Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuits.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a supporting framework,provided with beams 11 WhlCll serve to support insulators 12 of anysuitable or preferred construction. Extending through a casing 13, arebars 14 of suitable metal, the ends of which rest upon and are securedto the insulators 12, said bars serving to support the framework whichcarries the active electrode wires 15. Said electrode frame workcomprises bars 16 connected with the bars 14 and connected by verticalbars 17, the wires 15 being strung under tension between the bars 17.When the weight of the bars 16 and the wires 15 is sufficient to give afairly rigid structure that will han vertically, then the entire activeelectro e system may be suspended from the top only, by bars 14, thelower end of the frame hanging free. It is also obvious that the framemay be supported from the bottom alone. The Wei ht of the activeelectrode frame employe will depend upon the tension to which the wires15 are stretched between the end bars 17, as the greater the tension theheavier the frame must be. I prefer, however to support the frame bothat the top and the bottom, as illustrated in the drawings, and toconnect the horizontal bars of the frame by means of a tie strip 18through which the wires '15 are passed, said tie strip also serving toprevent or at least damp the vibrations of the wires 15. Any number ofsuch damping strips may be employed, the number required being dependentupon the length of the wires 15 and the manner in which they are strungbetween the bars 17. The bars 16 are also connected by a tie rod 19, the

high voltage wires for supplying current to the electrode system beingattached to said bar in any suitable manner.

The grounded electrode comprises the Walls 13 of the casing and aplurality of metal plates 20 which may be slightly corrugated, smooth,perforated or uniformly roughened, fine meshed wire netting, or gauze.It will be understood from the drawings that said plates 20 alternatewith the frames carrying the active electrode wires 15. The plates 20are supported by T-bars 21, one arm of each T-bar bein slotted to permitof the plates to be shove into place, and also to allow of a lateraladjustment for alinement with the active electrodes. The frames of theactive electrodes are supported by brackets 22 which are free to slidealong the bars 14 and when adjusted to proper position are held againstdisplacement in any preferred manner, as for instance by .set screws. InFig. 1 the plates 20 are illustrated as not as long vertically as arethe end bars 17 of the active electrodes. In Fig. 2, however, saidplates 20 are shown as longer horizontally than the upper and lower bars16.

he casing 13 is provided with an inlet conduit 25 or conducting thegaseous or fluid bodies, containin suspended matter, into said casing,suita le deflecting dampers 26 being provided to aid in distributing theincoming gases or fluid bodies as they are deflected upward. Saiddampers are mounted in a distributing chamber 27 and below said chamberis a suitable hopper 28 to receive the precipitate. The chamber 27 isprovided with an extended side apartment 28' in alinernent with theconduit 25 for the purpose of insurin that the incoming or fluid willtravel more or less completely across said chamber, whereby a moreuniform distribution of the gases or fluids between the electrodes isassomplished. Above the distributing chamber 27 the casing is providedwith extension spaces 29 having openings in their outer walls to receivesuitable insulating bushings 30 through which the bars 14 extend. Theextension spaces 29 very largely prevent the deposition of solid matteron the bushings 30, or those portions of the bars 14 which extend beyondthe side and end walls of the casing, and which are not in the directpath of the gaseous or fluid streams which contain the matter to bedeposited. The openings between the walls of the bushings and the bars14 permit the suction action, produced by natural or forced draftthrough the casing, to draw air into the spaces 29, thereby aiding inkeeping said spaces free from the precipitated materials.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the wires 15 are shown as extending horizontally.In Fig. 4 I have gases type of electric circuit preferably em being assmooth as shown a modification which consists in arranging the activeelectrode wires 15' to run diagonally. The 0 eration is much moreefiiclent with this diagonal grouping'of the active electrodes.

In the structure illustrated in the drawings, the flow of the gaseous orfluid media is vertical. It is obvious, however, that the direction offlow may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention,but no matter what the direction of flow may be it is at all timespreferableto keep the plane of the'plates 20 vertlcal in order that theymay more easilybe kept free from and clean of deposited matter. It willalso be understood t rection of flow of the gaseous and fluid streamsthrough the apparatus, it is preferable that the high voltage wires beconnected to the active electrodes at the upper ends through the tiestrip 19. This method of connecting the high voltage supply circuit tothe active electrode system especially with the diagonal grou ing of thewires makes the lower end of t e active electrode frame the same in itsaction toward the grounded electrode plates 20 and the walls of thecasing, as the upper end of the fan parallel type of antenna in a,wireless telegraph a paratus. The wires 15 are bare and pre erablycylindrical in cross section, practicable, and they may or may not beunder tension. All parts of the active and grounded electrodes are asfree as possible from sharp points or corners which would tend to.localize the electrical discharge. For the purposes of this invention itis immaterial whether the active electrode is of ne ative or positivesign, it being understoo that the coiiperatmg electrode is of the oposite sign.

With the type 0 electric current, which is unidirectional, yetintermittent, oscillating or pulsating 1n character, and of electricalcircuits similar to those herein specified, there is a tendency for theelectromagnetic waves, as they approach the lower end of the activeelectrode system in this apparatus, to set up violent whirls or vorticesin the gaseous or fluid media, even before the entrance of such media toor passage through the recipitating elements. The greater the die ectriccapacity of the gaseous or fluid media, the greater will be theelectromagnetic radiations, and these same radiations are made moreintense in the very direction which will enable a much higher rate ofproducing nuclei to'be obtained, and consequently a more efficientprecipitation of suspended matter. a

In Fig. 6 I

loyed with the above described apparatus. eferring to said figure, thelow voltage alterat whatever may be the di- 47, through have illustratedthe general,

nating current supply is represented by the wires 35, 36 which receivecurrent from a suitable generator. The transformer with its primar coil37 and secondary coil 38, is shown wit center of a double spark gap 40,41. The condensers 42, 43 are connected across the terminals 44, 45.Asymmetrical spark gap rectifiers 46, 47 are connected by wires 48 49with the secondary coil 38, as shown. he active electrode memberscontaining the wires 15 are connected by a wire 50 with the branch 39,as indicated at 51. The casine. and negative electrodes 20 are connectedat 57 by a wire 52 with the inductances 53 and 54 leading from the sparkgap rectifiers 46,

a wire 55, an inductance 56 being interposed between said wire and thefirst mentioned inductances. The casing 10 is grounded, as indicated at58. The inductances 53,- 54 and 56 are for the purpose of sustaining thecurrent during the interval when the voltage wave is falling ofl' and istoo small to be maintained without their use, or the use of condenserselsewhere pro vided.

Should the electrical precipitation apparatus containing active andgrounded electrodes be omitted, the secondary voltage may become ofsuflicient value to cause intense ionic streams across the gaps of the amiddle tap 39 connected to the rectifier-s 46 and 47 and the hissing,which at first would be more audible. When this condition has beenattained, either a slight rise in the secondary voltage or a very smalldecrease in the length of the gaps, causes the electrical discharge totake the form of an arc across the gaps. Simultaneously with theformation of these arcs, the secondary voltage must either be verymaterially lowered, or the gaps lengthene to maintain the voltage acrossthe gaps approximately constant for working conditions. The resence,however, of the active and'grounded electrodes of the precipitationapparatus, as shown across the circuit terminals 51 and 57, eliminatesthe necessity of the same rapidity and nicety of ad'ustment of secondaryvoltage or lengthemng of the gaps, because a larger part of the totalline voltage between the outside terminals 44 and 45 and the neutralpoint 39 now falls across the terminals 51 and 57. In other words thegaps 46 and 47 may be made quite short before an are forms, and alsobefore there will simultaneously occur, between the active and oundedelectrodes, a corona discharge su eient in magnitude to maintain a uietor slightly humming are.

A large num r of possible electric circuits are admissible in theoperation of my precifpitating apparatus, and also groupings oresistances, inductances, capacities, and spherical spark gaps, and Iaccordingly do rather faint, becomes much not desire to limit m self tothe precise arrangement of these e ements shown and described.Furthermore, any form of rectifier may be employed, and the general makeup of the electric circuit will vary accordingly, the rectifiers shownand described, and the circuits in connection therewith being employedfor illustrative purposes only, and I therefore do not limit myself inthis particular.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention and described anoperative manner of constructing and using the same, although withoutattempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or allof the forms of its use, what I claim is 1. An improvement in means forremoving suspended particles from gaseous and fluid bodies comprising aplurality of spaced apart plate-like grounde electrodes, and a pluralitof active electrodes alternat ng with said grounded electrodes,each'active electrode being provided with a plurality of electrodemembers located on a common plane extending parallel with the faces ofsaid grounded electrodes and in the direction of flow of the stream,said members extending angularly to the direction of flow of the gaseousor fluid streams.

2. An im rovement in means for removing suspen ed particles from gaseousand fluid bodies comprising an active electrode formed of a rectangularframe having a plurality of parallel wires supported by opposite sidebars of said frame, and extending angularly to the direction of flow ofthe gaseous or fluid streams, and a grounded electrode having one faceopposite said wires.

3. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprising a plurality of spaced plate-like receiving electrodesforming a gas-passage between them, an electrode frame between saidreceiving electrodes and in a plane parallel thereto and a series ofparallel discharge electrodes in said frame angularly disposed withrespect to the direction of gas-flow.

4. Apparatus for electrical precipitation.

of suspended particles from gases, comprising a plurality of spacedplate-like receiving electrodes forming a gas assage between them, anelectrode frame etween said receiving electrodes and in a plane parallelthereto and a series of parallel filamentary discharge electrodes insaid frame angularly gisposed with respect to the direction of gas- 5.Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprising a plurality of spaced plate-like receiving electrodesforming a gasassage between them, an electrode frame tween saidreceiving electrodes and in a plane parallel thereto and a series ofparallel filamentary discharge electrodes held by said frame undertension at an angle to the direction of gas-flow.

6. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromases, comprising spaced plate-like receiving electrodes formin a gasassage between them, an electro e frame tween said receiving electrodesand in a lane. parallel thereto and a series of paralle l dischargeelectrodes held by said frame under tension.

7. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprismg a plurailty of spaced, vertical, plate-like receivingelectrodes forming a vertical gas passage between them, a verticalelectrode frame between said receiving electrodes and a series ofparallel discharge electrodes in said frame at an angle to the vertical.

8. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, com rising a plurality of s aced, vertical, p atellkerecelvingmelectro es forming a vertical gasassage tween them a verticalelectro e frame between said receiving electrodes and a series ofparallel discharge electrodes held in said frame under tension.

9. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprismg a plurality of spaced, vertical, plate-like receivingelectrodes forming a vertical gaspassage betweenthem, a verticalelectrode frame between said receiving electrodes and a series ofparallel filamentary discharge electrodes held b said frame undertension, said dischar e e ectrodes being inclined to the line of ow ofthe gas.

10. Apparatus for electrical precipitation ofsuspended particles fromgases, comprising a plurality of spaced, vertical, plate-like receivingelectrodes forming a vertical gaspassage between them, a verticalelectrode frame between said reciving electrodes having a verticalcross-bar intermediate its ends, a series of parallel dischargeelectrodes in said frame between one of its ends and said crossbar, saiddischarge electrodes being inclined to the line of ow of the gas and asecond series of parallel discharge electrodes in said frame between itsother end and said cross-bar, the discharge electrodes of said secondseries being inclined to the line of flow of the gas and substantiallyat ri ht angles to the discharge electrodes of t e first series.

11. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprising a plurality of spaced, vertical, plate-like receivingelectrodes forming a series of parallel, vertical gasassages, a verticalelectrode frame in eac of said passages and a series of arallel dis'chare electrodes carried ri "d y in each of said frames at an angle to t evertical.

12. Apparatus for electrical precipitation of suspended particles fromgases, comprising spaced plate-like receiving electrodes formin agas-passage between them, an electro e frame between said receivingelectrodes and a series of parallel flexible linearly extendingdischarge members held rigi ly in said frame. r

13. Apparatus for electrical precipitation com )rismg opposing electrodesystems, the disc arge system, comprising a frame can ing riigldly alurality of flexible linear y exten ing disc arge members extending inparallelism with each other.

14. Apparatus for electrical precipitation comprising opposing electrodesystems, the discharge system comprising a frame carrying rigidly aplurality of flexible linearly exten ing dischar e producing elements extending 1n paralle ism with each other, said elements intersecting thedirection of flow of the stream.

15. .-\pp.lrallls for electrical precipitation compri-mg epposingelectrode systems, the dischawc system comprisin a. rigid frame. a sup,-rt therefor, and a plurality of flexi ble linearly extending dischargeproducing elements rigidly carried by the frame and extending inparallelism with each other on a common plane corresponding to thedirection of flow of the stream.

16. Apparatus for electrical precipitation comprising opposing electrodesystems, the discharge system comprisin a rigid frame, a su porttherefor. and a p urality of flexible inearly extending dischargeproducing elements rigidly carried by the frame and extending inparallelism with each other on a common plane, said frame and elementsconstituting a unit of single charge sign.

17. Apparatus for electrical precipitation comprising opposing electrodesystems, the

discharge system comprising a lurality of flexible linearly extendingdisc ar e producing elements parallel with eac other and heldsubstantially rigid.

18. Apparatus for electrical precipitation comprising a dischargeelectrode system consisting of a frame carrying parallel flexiblelinearly extending electrode elements, a sup port for said frame, andmeans for adjustably holding the frame on said support.

19. Apparatus'for electrical precipitation s stems,v

comprising opposing electrode means for passing a gas stream terebetween, the discharge electrode system comprising a series ofparallel electrode elements inclined to the direction of gas flow, andmeans for connecting the discharge electrode systems with a source ofelectrical energy at that end farthest from the gas entrance.

20. Apparatus for electrical precipitation com rising opposing electrodesystems, the disc large system comprising a frame carrying rigidly aplurality of electrode elements extending in parallelism with each otherand inclined to one side of the frame.

21. Apparatus for electrical precipitation comprising opposing electrodesystems, the discharge system comprising a rigid frame carrying rigidlya plurality of electrode elements extending in parallelism with eachother and inclined to one side of the frame.

In testimony wher of I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

Ammrr H. Ko'rson, W. J. Mooua.

